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Home » Recipes » Layer Cakes

Pecan Layer Cake:Classic Southern Recipe

Published: Dec 10, 2015 · Updated: Mar 30, 2024 by Marye

This easy layer cake is has finely ground pecans and pecan praline whiskey added to the batter. The pecan flavor is over the top. Use an frosting you like -- I prefer plain vanilla or cream cheese frosting.
Total time for the recipe to be finished.Total Time 40 minutes minutes
Jump to Recipe
pecan layer cake feat

A tender pecan layer cake flavored with a generous amount of butter and a splash of pecan infused whiskey is just right for special occasions whether it's celebrating a promotion or a birthday. 

For this recipe you'll need the following ingredients: all purpose flour, baking powder, salt, unsalted butter, sugar, vanilla, eggs, milk, pecans, and pecan whiskey  (optional or you can substitute bourbon) You'll also need 2 9-inch cake pans and 40 minutes of time.

This pecan layer cake is a vintage recipe that is still so good! I added a splash of whiskey... from RestlessChipotle.com

A month or so ago I was picking up some liquor for a client project and I happened to see pecan praline whiskey. I knew right then that I wanted to make this cake for my husband's birthday. Pecan anything is almost guaranteed to be popular here in Texas so I wasn't too worried that he wouldn't like it even though it wasn't chocolate.

Our property is filled with pecan and black walnut trees. I was really excited about it when we first moved here. I made all kinds of plans for those pecans and walnuts - why I'd even sell the at the Farmer's Market! When fall came and those nuts started hitting the ground I gathered them up. I grabbed my basket and made a beeline for the kitchen and my nut cracker. When the first pecan was shriveled and icky I chalked it up to the price I had to pay for these gorgeous wild pecans. By the time I'd opened the tenth one (yes I am stubborn) and gagged as a little white worm wiggled out I was done with the damn pecans. The black walnuts were impossible to open so I decided to be happy with the shade that the trees create and the great firewood they turn into when they fall down.

Isn't that just the way, though? You build things up in your mind and then when they don't measure up to your fantasy you get frustrated -- at least  do. Y'all are probably not like that. This year I am working on being satisfied with what I have while I am on the way to where I'm going.

Pecan layer cake has just a splash of whiskey to bring out the richness and flavor. From RestlessChipotle.com

Anyway, back to this most amazing pecan layer cake. Between the ground pecans and the pecan whiskey I knew that the flavor was going to be incredible. I was a little concerned about the texture, though. I based my cake on a black walnut (how do people open those things?) cake from a 1930s cookbook. I used butter rather than shortening and pecans rather than walnuts. With a couple of tweaks it was exactly what I wanted.

Delicious.

Here's the Pecan Layer Cake Recipe. You can use any frosting you like but I like this Cream Cheese Frosting. Just scroll down to the frosting recipe on the bottom.

📖 Recipe

pecan layer cake feat

Pecan Layer Cake: Did You Say Pecan Whiskey?

4.84 from 6 votes
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This easy layer cake is has finely ground pecans and pecan praline whiskey added to the batter. The pecan flavor is over the top. Use an frosting you like -- I prefer plain vanilla or cream cheese frosting.
Course Cake
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
Servings:10
Calories:
Author:Marye Audet-White

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 ¾ teaspoons of baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ⅔ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla
  • 3 eggs, , room temperature and separated
  • ½ cup milk
  • ¼ cup pecan praline whiskey, (or bourbon, or leave it out and add another ¼ cup of milk)
  • 1 ½ cups finely ground pecans

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350F.
  • Grease and flour 2 9-inch pans.
  • Set aside.
  • Beat the egg whites until they are stiff but not dry.
  • Set aside.
  • Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt together.
  • Set aside.
  • Cream the butter with the sugar and vanilla until fluffy.
  • Add the egg yolks all at once and beat well.
  • Add the bourbon to the milk.
  • Set aside.
  • Add the dry ingredients alternately with the milk mixture, beginning and ending with the flour and beating well after each addition.
  • Add the nuts and fold in the stiffly beaten egg whites.
  • Spoon into greased and floured pans and bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Let cool 5 minutes in the pans then turn out and cool completely.
  • Fill and frost as desired.

Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.

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About Marye

Meet Marye Audet, a wizard in the kitchen and a storyteller at heart. Marye is like your eccentric but fun aunt who knows all the secret recipes and isn't afraid to spill them.

Comments

    4.84 from 6 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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    Love it? Give it 5 stars!




  1. T Grau says

    March 17, 2019 at 2:46 pm

    5 stars
    This is a great, solid cake recipe. Texture is a balance between dense and fluffy, and flavor was not overly sweet or overly nutty - just right. I was making for an event where one person can't eat gluten, so I used gluten free flour. Couldn't find the right whiskey, so used the bourbon option. Also used half white sugar and half brown sugar. Frosted with a cream cheese frosting. The pecans and the bourbon come through wonderfully without being too powerful. Thanks for a solid and delicious recipe!

    Reply
  2. Linda @ Food Huntress says

    December 13, 2015 at 10:20 pm

    Wow, it sounds decadent and delicious. I love pecans in almost anything!

    Reply
    • Marye Audet says

      December 15, 2015 at 10:50 am

      It is so good, really!

      Reply
  3. Laura @MotherWouldKnow says

    December 12, 2015 at 9:46 am

    The recipe sounds divine, but it doesn't compare to the nugget of an experience you recounted (pardon the pun) and the profound thought that followed.

    Reply
    • Marye Audet says

      December 12, 2015 at 10:35 am

      Aww, thanks Laura.

      Reply
  4. Susan | LunaCafe says

    December 11, 2015 at 9:53 pm

    Love pecans. Love whiskey. Love cake. Okay, this is a no brainer for me. 🙂

    Reply
    • Marye Audet says

      December 12, 2015 at 10:32 am

      LOL!

      Reply
  5. Nutmeg Nanny says

    December 11, 2015 at 9:23 pm

    This cake look amazing! I love pecans but I never use them in cakes. This must change!

    Reply
    • Marye Audet says

      December 12, 2015 at 10:32 am

      It adds a delicate flavor that I love.

      Reply
  6. Catherine says

    December 11, 2015 at 6:42 pm

    Dear Marye, your layer cake looks splendid. I have to try this for the holidays...I know it will be a sure hit! xo, Catherine

    Reply
    • Marye Audet says

      December 11, 2015 at 8:36 pm

      thank you!

      Reply
  7. Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says

    December 11, 2015 at 10:29 am

    Right there, smack in the middle of a recipe post, is an extremely profound comment: "This year I am working on being satisfied with what I have while I am on the way to where I’m going." Amen to that, sistah!

    Reply
    • Marye Audet says

      December 11, 2015 at 8:35 pm

      🙂 Now, if only I can stick with it. 😉

      Reply
  8. heather says

    December 11, 2015 at 10:06 am

    "being satisfied with what I have while I am on the way to where I’m going" LOVE this!! and I LOVE this cake!

    Reply
    • Marye Audet says

      December 11, 2015 at 8:34 pm

      thankyou

      Reply
  9. allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says

    December 11, 2015 at 9:29 am

    5 stars
    This sounds divine Marye! I have never had pecan whiskey. Yet. How fabulous in a cake!!!

    Reply
    • Marye Audet says

      December 11, 2015 at 8:34 pm

      it is awesome!

      Reply
  10. Shashi at RunninSrilankan says

    December 11, 2015 at 7:49 am

    You had me at Pecan cake - but then I saw the pecan praline whiskey in this and I almost bowled over! I would be quite quite happy if this was in front of me.
    BTW , Marye, I might have to adopt your resolution to be "satisfied with what I have while I am on the way to where I’m going" - LOVE that!

    Reply
    • Marye Audet says

      December 11, 2015 at 8:34 pm

      🙂 thank you!

      Reply
  11. Ali @ Home & Plate says

    December 11, 2015 at 7:48 am

    I love pecans but never heard of pecan whiskey. Now I'm interested. Looks delicious.

    Reply
    • Marye Audet says

      December 11, 2015 at 8:33 pm

      It is SO good.

      Reply
Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

Hey Y'all, I'm Marye

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NY Times bestselling author. 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Addicted to Hallmark Christmas Movies. Collector of old cookbooks.

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